A Week at Rooksbury - 18th - 21st Feb

Massive apologies to all my blog readers as I am a whole 2 months behind, work has been manic for the past month or so and all lunchtime trips out have been halted in there tracks. But you don't want to hear about that so I will try catch up on some blogging normality, I would say expect them all thick and fast in the coming days, but we shall see.

So after the excitement of the Great Bustard it was back to the humdrum of a lunchtime walk around the lakes. Both appeared really quiet with hardly any birds visible on a fairly bright February Tuesday afternoon. 4 Little Grebe appeared on the large Lake and showed fairly closely for Little Grebe, both  a Sparrowhawk and a Cormorant perched atop waterside trees surveying the scene.

I managed to seek out a rather bold Goldcrest singing in the ivy tree at the far end of the reserve, and after a short wait I was rewarded with some lovely close views, even if the foreground and background was cluttered with twigs.

Goldcrest 

Singing Robin

With Rain on Wednesday, I returned Thursday lunchtime to an even quieter reserve, a brace of Gadwall pairs on the small Lake, and now only 2 Little Grebe on the large lake. Several Goldfinch fed on the thistles by the car park and I did catch a glimpse of a calling Grey Wagtail as it zoomed over the top of the water.

I did have some joy whilst sat on the bench overlooking the lakes, 3 raucous Mallard put down the landing gear, and somehow I managed to catch them in almost perfect synchronicity. They soon were joined by 3 other drakes who all raced off after the lone female.

So all in all quite a quiet week at the lakes, but nice to see a little of Spring in the air.

Little Grebes

Incoming Mallard

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Watercress Wagtail

With the week between Christmas and New Year off work, I was praying for some decent weather. Thursday the 27th I awoke to rain again and convinced myself that it wasn't going to get better. So you can imagine my delight when just after midday the clouds parted and some sun shone through. Like on Boxing Day the day before, I was up and out, waterproofed up to the max and off around the village.

First stop at the end of the water meadows, several Red Kites circled above the adjoining paddocks of Owls Lodge, 4 in total, and although I couldn't see in the 45 mins or so I watched, they all kept flying low over a certain area of the fence line about halfway down the field, occasionally landing. I guess there was something tasty to eat there.

A large number of Mute Swans - 16 in total, all milled about together on Jackson's Lake, the local rainbow trout fishery. Almost double what I have seen together so far this winter around the village. But then we did have some pretty large families during the spring, probably just two joined up for Christmas Dinner.

With nothing to close to photograph I did a full circuit of the village and came back in on the far side, Longparish has quite a few small watercress beds, private little businesses doted all around the village. This is usually a good spot to pick up a Little Egret. So I snuck into one of them, with my gear hoping for some shots of the flighty Egret or perhaps even a Water Rail out in the open.

Turns out I wasn't stealthy enough and the Egret flew off to other flooded parts of the village. So I found myself a good spot in the corner of the cress beds, with my back to the surrounding trees and the sun. After a couple of minutes scanning I picked up a Grey Wagtail about 20 metres in front of me. It proceeded to feed right up to within 5 metres. Totally oblivious to me snapping away on the 7D.

It was a shame really although only 2pm the sun had dipped beneath the tree line and only a few rays got through to light up the shallow water. Creating a lovely orange glow, the Wagtail however was in the shade for the most part so shot at quite high ISO. I shouldn't complain to much, quite an enjoyable few hours and my closest encounter with the Grey Wagtail to date.

Grey Wagtail

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Birthday Blog From Blashford

With the pickings at Langford Lakes pretty slim, we headed back through Salisbury and down towards Ringwood, and the Blashford Lakes Hampshire Wildlife Trust reserve. First port of call the Tern Hide next to the car park overlooking Ibsley Water. If Langford Lakes was scarce, Blashford Lakes proved the exact opposite as I racked up a whopping 8 (all but distant) year ticks! 7 All from the same hide as well, taking my year list to 122.

115 Hobby - 3 circled together in the distance.
116 Little Gull
117 Little ringed Plover - a pair appeared briefly on the top of one of the spits.
118 Common Sandpiper
119 Bar-tailed Godwit
120 Black Tern - 2 adult birds mixing well with the Common Terns
121 Common Tern


The only annoying factor being they were all to far away to photograph, viewing through the scope was a must, Ibsley water stretches out a fair distance, and the islands to which the birds were congregating typically happened to be at the furthest point from the hide.

However several other species where noted and game a whole lot closer, Swallows glided low over top of the waters surface, a Little Grebe floated on the edge of the shore, and even stepped out onto the gravel edge for 10 minutes or so. A sight to behold in itself, its not hard to see why, they're feet are huge and proportioned so far back on they're bodies it must be pretty tricky to walk. 3 Buzzards soared pretty low, along with a few Carrion Crows no doubt in search of the Little ringed Plover or Lapwing youngsters. 4 Whimbrel and a couple of Dunlin in summer plumage joined the Barwits out on one of the tern islands, as plenty of Black headed Gulls congregated with the Terns.

A Lapwing paraded cautiously near the hide which enabled me to get off a few shots, and was soon joined by a Grey Wagtail on the shoreline.

Peg Legged?

Cracking birds in the right light

Lapwing

Grey Wagtail

With the excitement of 7 new sightings in the bag, we headed over to the Woodland hide to see what was feeding, 6 Grey Squirrels, Pheasants, Goldfinchs, Collared Doves, Great Tits & Greenfinchs all visitors to the seed feeders.

Grey Squirrel

We then walked back across to the Goosander Hide overlooking Ibsley water, which is strategically positioned atop of the Sand Martin bank, the activity was pretty frenetic with about 50+ Sand Martins (122) coming and going every 20 seconds or so, some so quick that I had visions of them joining us in the hide. I think I probably fired off about 200 shots on my camera, of birds in flight and when they landeded on the soft moss at the waters edge. They never stay still long enough, so not one was in focus enough to use.

I then most confess to missing what would have been a truly great photographic opportunity, as we rounded a corner on the path out towards the furthest hide, a Fox trotted over top of a grass bank at eye level with a rabbit in its mouth. Seeing us instantly and was gone. To say I was distraught was a bit of an understatement. The remainder of the path had a lot of singing Blackcaps and the odd Reed Bunting flitting back and forth. The only different species viewed from the Hide a lone Shellduck.
The walk back to the car did give me a chance to grab a few shots of a bird that I don't see out in the open very often the Jay.

Jay

All in all a cracking couple of hours and made some good birthday birding. Not a bad way to spend your 26th.

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Back To Blackcap

With the addition of the Reed Bunting to the garden species list, also a frequent visitor is the Blackcap, I've not seen a female for over a week, but around lunchtime yesterday there where 4 Males visiting the feeders at the bottom of the garden, along with an array of Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Chaffinch, Long Tailed Tit, Blue Tit & Great Tit. We only ever seemed to see the Blackcaps on the odd occasion at Apsley, so definitely nice to have some different regular visitors. Great spotted Woodpecker, Pied Wagtail, Grey Wagtail, Chiffchaff and Song Thrush were also frequent visitors to the garden yesterday.

Birding About

Here is a selection of Bird pics from last weekend. Taken whilst out and about around the village. Looks quite promising that there is a Grey Wagtail pair nesting on the Riverbank at the bottom of the garden so Im hoping too get some better pics in coming weeks.

Cock Chaffinch

Dunnock

House Sparrow

Cock Sparrow

Chiffchaff

Grey Wagtail

Mistle Thrush

Watercress For Lunch

With the weather somewhat settled for a few hours, I thought a trip out at lunchtime would be just the ticket. Rooksbury Mill which I must admit has been somewhat neglected by me in recent weeks the location.

Had a quick peep over the pedestrian bridge up the River Anton, no wildlife in site, just the "Moany Photographer" sat on the sluices to the side of one bank, tripod positioned midstream. Not sure what he was waiting for, not sure it wouldn't have seen him and fled in terror, hardly inconspicuous.

On all my visits to Rooksbury, today seemed to show off the most birdlife. Must be the cold weather, with the smaller Brooks Lake my first stop I was surprised to see it abudent with 4/5 x as many inhabitants than normal. 25-30 Tufted Duck, 15-20 Gadwall, Coots, Moorhen, a pair of Little Grebe, 3 Mute Swan and the a dozen or so Mallard.

Female Gadwall

The larger Mill Lake seems to have been invaded by Black-headed Gulls, a much larger number now present, again Tufted Duck and Gadwall, Coot, Mute Swan & Moorhen all present, a pair of Teal flushed from the edge of the Boardwalk as I walked around the far edge. A Little Egret also flew from the woodland cover to the right hand side of the path, circling the lake eventually landing atop a nearby house. The lake revealing itself to be half under ice the further around I could see, concentrating all of the Bird numbers on the remaining clear water.

Little Egret

Whilst trying to photograph a couple of swans in the nearby reed bed, I was distracted by a large duck like bird taking flight from the lake edge, better views revealed a Drake Goosander, my first for the area and the for the year, unfortunately not sticking around long enough to get a picture. Not long after a Grey Wagtail flew overhead, also another first for the year.

With no perching birds visible, (although I could hear, House Sparrow, Great Tit, Robin & Blue Tit) I headed back around the Brooks lake, spotting Chaffinch, Greenfinch & Goldfinch on the way. My intentions of getting a better Gadwall pic headed pretty much out of the window, as I spied movement next to a pair of Blackbirds in amongst a small area of watercress. A Water Rail, who fled pretty rapidly under the overhanging ivy, So i positioned myself and within 5 minutes he/she was back out in the open, allowing me some pretty good views.

Water Rail

Water Rail

Water Rail

Not a bad hour, well hour and 5 minutes, Why do you always see something interesting when its time to go back to work? Puts the Year list up to 86 Species so far.

What A Way To Start The Day!

What a way to start the day! After a pretty crap nights sleep, the first rays of sunlight through the bedroom window as a I pulled back the curtains brought with them a nice surprise, Bertie the resident Barn Owl perched outside his nest box across the far side of the field. (I guess it could be Belinda, his mate - to far away to tell, so its even possible it was neither of these two) But im rambling now, I had to get the Binoculars out a bit quick as it was to make sure I wasn't imagining it in my bleary eyed state, confirmed Barn Owl hopping into Dads custom built nest box. Triiifffic! As Del Boy would say!

Nobody bloody mentioned that the Andover schools had the day off today! Mini motorbikes, Dog fights and endless Chav gangs - I ended my lunchtimes wander 20 minutes early because of the noise. None of the smaller birds that I'd seen earlier in the week were around and weather wise its been the best day of the week! I did somehow manage to squeeze in a full 10 minute viewing of the Kingfisher hidden amongst the trees, still not close enough for a decent pic, somewhat oblivious to the Chaos around him.

Grainy Kingfisher Proof

Cormorant

Mute Swan

Talking of which "Chaos" was the name of the Rotweiler chasing launched branches in to the lake by some pimple pocked faced Chav! This isn't good, Im beginning to think all my posts have to contain some kind of endless moaning, but I guess I shouldn't expect anything less from the location in which I go out. Other than the usual water going birds, the only noticeable sightings were a Buzzard, a Cormorant, a small flock of Fieldfare & a Grey Wagtail. Here's to hoping Sunday brings good weather so I can get out and about around the Estate.

Beaten By The Binmen!

With a bit more light on offer today, I got the camera out early this morning and sat myself up in the bedroom window, curtains drawn and lens poking through, to see what would come in on the bird table! The resident Robin, a Great Tit, Blue Tits bombing back and forth. Then the Great Spotted Woodpecker appeared, perched atop the nearest telegraph pole, I steadied myself, finger stretched at the ready on the shutter button, all the other birds disappear from the feeders, he calls, he flies towards the Nuts landing on the fence checking out the area, I move position slightly, and then the bloody Dustbin men come, male Woodpecker a gonna!

Robin

I thought Id spend my lunch break around Rooksbury Mill today as the sun kept appearing through the cloud, with the hope of getting some shots of the Kingfisher with better light. A lot of the Blackbirds from wednesday seeming to have vanished with just a few showing up around the reserve. Mute Swans, Tufted Duck, Mallard, Little Grebe & Gadwall all showing on the smaller lake. The larger and main lake almost empty with only 2 Swans a Moorhen and a Coot present.

I returned to the small former watercress bed several times during my lunch hour, as this was the place I saw the Kingfisher earlier in the week, I stood and waited for about a total of 30 mins, hidden behind a bramble patch peering out for a glimpse. Nothing, I could hear a pair calling quite frequently to my right on the main river, but nothing appeared in-front of me. There was however a small bird on the drainage pipes from the other cress beds which enter the pool, Sat preening in the midday sun, not once giving me a glimpse of its tail or wing weathers. The only identification I can give is a Grey Wagtail, possibly a juvenile, attached below are some pictures. Please let me know if you have any other ideas.